Back in 1998 in an interview in Downbeat, Wynton Marsalis picked out Italian trumpeter Flavio Boltro as one of the best on the global jazz scene. Despite that endorsement, he isn't particularly well known in the UK, although he's recorded two albums for Blue Note and played alongside the likes of Freddie Hubbard and Joe Lovano. Of the nine numbers on this new disc, the bright, boppish originals are generally the best: ‘Mister Italo’ and ‘Black Jack’ get things off to an energetic start and show Boltro engaging in spirited unison work and fiery sparring with the fine saxophonist Rosario Giuliani – together they make a sparky, inventive front line. An instrumental version of ‘Over the Rainbow’ makes a plaintive interruption in the largely upbeat proceedings, while the quintet are joined on three cuts by former Santana vocalist Alex Ligertwood: the up-tempo, lyrically vacuous ‘See You Tomorrow’, a soberly groovy cover of Sting's ‘Every Breath You Take’ and a jabbing, angular take on Lee Morgan's ‘Sidewinder’. The playing is strong; the compositional coherence less so.